Rudolf Gerhardt

Rudolf Gerhardt (26 May 1896-10 November 1964) was an Oberst of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht, commanding the Panzer Lehr Division from 24 August 1944 to 8 September 1944 during World War II.

Biography
Rudolf Gerhardt was born on 26 May 1896 in Greiz, Thuringia, German Empire. He served in World War I at the Battle of Verdun, Battle of the Somme, and the Third Battle of Ypres, and he won the Iron Cross in 1914. During World War II, he commanded panzer regiments for Nazi Germany during the Great Patriotic War against the Soviet Union, and he fought in Poland, France, Russia, North Africa, and Normandy. Gerhardt commanded the elite Panzer Lehr division during Operation Overlord, and almost all of the armored components of the division were destroyed. After Operation Cobra, he was replaced by Paul von Hauser as the division's commander. He died in 1964 in Muenster.